>
> Actually, just this past weekend I was talking with several farmers in
> the Midwest who are applying precision-farming techniques to their operations.
>
> GPS and yield monitors are turning out to be an incredibly useful tool
> for evaluating all sorts of factors in the field. Soil testing can just
> as easily monitor biological activity, earthworm populations, compaction,
> wet aggregate stability, percent organic matter, humus quality, or whatever,
> as it can measure NPK.
I'd be very interested to learn more about how those farmers that you
spoke with are actually sampling for and analyzing soil samples for
biological activity, earthworms, etc. in a GIS/GPS framework. Further,
assuming they have been successful making those characterizations - how have
they used those characteristics in their management decisions?
I have been struggling with just this task - characterization of soil
quality (biological, physical and chemical measures) in a 40 ac
uniformity trial using GPS/GIS techniques. I have found it a very difficult
task - both the measuring and then the relating to productivity.
Also, how much does all of this cost and what benefits have been
achieved?
Laura